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0. S, INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 



HISTORICAL NOTES 



CONCERNING THE 



VEGETABLE FIBRES, 

\ Exhibited by Severino L, da C, Leite ; 



NICOLAU JT MOREIRA, M. D., 

Member of the Brazilian Commission. 




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IYEW YORK : 
O Novo Mundo " Printing Office 

1876. 

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HISTORICAL NOTES 

Relating to the Vegetable Fibres exhibited at the 

International Exposition, by Severino 

Lonrengo da Costa Leite. 



Under Official Notice No. 41 of the 22nd. of November, 
1869, the Minister of Agriculture, Commerce and Public 
Works sent to the Sociedade Auxiliadora da Industria 
National, in order to consult its opinion about them, some 
vegetable fibres which had been presented to him by Mr. 
Severino Louren<jo da Costa Leite, residing at Sacramento 
Pequeno, on the Doce River, Parish of S. Domingos da 
Prata, in the Province of Minas G-eraes 

The departments of Agriculture and Manufactures of the 
Sociedade Auxiliadora da Industria National, although 
recognising the good quality of the fibres subjected to their 
examination, were of opinion, notwithstanding, that in order 
to obtain any profitable results, it was necessary to study 
the question, botanically and industrially, to learn the prob- 
able cost of a unity of weight, of each one of the species of 
fibres, in the exporting markets, the presumable result of 
the quantity produced upon a well defined and well cultivat- 
ed area and, finally, to make experiments in its elasticity, 
resistance, etc. 

Somewhat later, a remittance of the fibres prepared by 
Mr. Leite reached England and there, not only the celebrat- 
ed botanist John Myers, but also a prominent manufacturer 
of Manchester, acknowledged that the qualities and adapt- 
ability for transformation by manufacturing of the Brazil- 
ian vegetable fibres, greatly exceeded those of hemp. The 
information which Mr. John Myers submitted to our lega- 
tion in London is as follows : 



Kensington, May 9th, 1872. 
I have examined with a great deal of interest the samples 



— 2 — 

of the beautiful Brazilian fibre, which you handed me, in 
order to see if it could substitute cotton. 

Upon this point, I will already give a decided negative, 
but, on the other hand, said material presents certain quali- 
ties of great value, which lead me to believe that it may be 
successfully employed in other species of textile fabrics. 

To show you the reasons, on which this opinion is based, 
it is necessary to explain that in the manufacture of fabrics, 
three distinct classes of vegetable materials are employed. 
1st., that which is only a down produced upon the hull of 
seeds, such as the well known cotton, that is prefered to all 
others on account of its softness and elasticity and of the 
facility with which it is spun ; 2nd., materials which con- 
sist of fibres of wood taken from the branches and leaves 
of numerous tropical plants, such as the banana, which 
produces the Manilla hemp, from which they make the 
finest Indian muslins, and also the fibres extracted from the 
leaves of the aloes species, which produce the well-known 
Pita of Brazil, the Carua, Gravata, etc.: others from the 
palm-leaves, as Tucum and Carnahiba, both good for ropes, 
and the fibre from the seeds of the Cocoa, used for making 
large ropes for vessels, and some others, which, however can- 
not in general be woven because of the thickness and stiff- 
ness of the fibres; 3rd., which consists of very useful fibres 
ouly found inside the bark of trees or bushes ; of these, 
hemp, Jute and the Rhea fibre are very much used in 
special manufactures and it is to this class that your noble 
Brazilian fibre, belongs. 

I should explain here, that cotton owes its great value to 
the quality of its down, which, seen through a microscope, 
seems to be a fine membrane, ribbon shaped, with a tend- 
ency to intertwine itself, by which its many points are 
easily interlaced, and from which results sufficient adhesion 
for its down to be converted into continuous, firm and fine 
thread. If cotton did not possess this quality, it would be 
useless, because of the shortness of the original down. 

This quality, however, is peculiar to cotton, in the manu- 
facture of which, in some parts of* the world, especially in 
England, great numbers of special machines and enormous 
sums of money are employed. 

On the other hand, the fibres of the 2nd class are com- 
posed of solid shreds, which are smooth, incapable of 
division or of being separately twisted ; they owe their 
capability of being spun, when very fine, entirely to their 
great length, which in Manilla hemp measures 6 feet ; it 
being an established fact, that the greater its length, the 



— 3 — 

greater its value. Some of them are, however, sufficiently 
fine and capable of being separated from the glutinous 
matter, to be used in fine textiles. 

Finally, the fibres of the 3rd class, generated in the inside 
of the bark, are composed of what in botanical language are 
termed fascicular veins, and although they are often equal 
in length to the preceding species, their great merit con- 
sists in being able to be divided into numerous threads, 
which would be infinitely finer if they were not ofteu clogged 
by resinous or other matters. The separation and divison 
of this class of fibres depend upon different processes and 
different machinery, which vary according to the species of 
fibre ; thus hemp requires to be soaked, carded, combed, 
bleached and an especial manner of spinning ; and the 
manufactures from hemp have a greater or lesser value ac- 
cording to the perfection of the machinery employed. 
Among the fibres of this class, the best known in Brazil is 
the Gruaxima, which although not equal to the Rhea fibre, 
would be preferred to Jute, if it were possible to obtain it 
in sufficient quantities and at a price which would attract 
the attention of the merchant, a consideration which carries 
us directly to the question of the probable price of your 
fibre, as an article of commerce. 

The most important points to be verified, in the first place, 
are, if it is possible to produce the fibre in quantities suf- 
ficiently large and for a price reasonable enough to attract 
the attention of the manufacturer. 

Supposing that these questions admitted of a favorable 
answer, it would be necessary to send a sufficient quantity 
of the fibre, in order to see whether it can be spun and 
woven in a factory by the machinery now in use, or whether 
it will require machinery especially constructed. For this 
purpose, at least a hundred weight would be necessary for 
each experiment. In case of a good result with the proper 
apparatus, we would afterwards consider the question of an 
adequate supply, which now appears quite problematical. 
It would be impossible to rely on a supply, however 
moderate, of plants in a wild state, as they would soon be 
exhausted, if they were not cultivated on a large scale, and 
the demand for them would immediately cease. 

I would like very much to see a specimen of the plant 
dried, with its leaves and flowers, as well as its fruit ; from 
the branches sent, it is evident that it is a creeper, and I 
can form a tolerably good idea of the family to which it 
belongs, which leads me to doubt the possibility of its cul- 
ture on a scale sufficiently great to furnish a prompt and 



_ 4 — 

constant supply, all of which can be verified only by ex- 
perience, and perhaps you can tell me if any such attempt 
has already been made in Brazil. I should like very much 
indeed, to obtain all the information you can furnish me in 
regard to it. 

In the meantime I will use all my efforts to make the 
matter generally well known and to call the attention of 
the manufacturers to it. 

I have carefully examined the fibre, which seems to have 
great capability ; it is finer, softer and I believe stronger 
than fine flax. 

A merchant of experience in fibres, to whom it was 
shown, estimated its value, in the supposition that it could 
be offered in large quantities, at £ 84 per ton or 9d. a lb., 
flax being worth to-day 6d. per pound, while ordinary cot- 
ton is worth 9 or lOd. per pound. This is certainly very 
encouraging. 

1 am, dear Sir, very truly yours, 

John Myers. 

To Mr. Pereira de Andrade. 



London, May 13th, 1876. 

I beg permission to correct a mistake which there was in 
my communication regarding your beautiful Brazilian fibre. 
I beg you to erase Jute 6d. per pound, substituting Flax 
6d. per pound, Jute 2fd. a pound- 

This comparatively low price of Jute, which is otherwise 
a beautiful strong fibre is due to its not being able to with- 
stand the influence of moisture, as it immediately decays 
when exposed to it, a defect which makes it of little value 
when converted into cloth. If your fibre is equal to hemp 
in durability, when thus exposed, it will reach a much 
greater value than that which I gave it. 

I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully, 

John Myers. 

To Mr. Pereira de Andrade. 



As will be seen, in the opinion of the English manufac- 
turers, tfte Brazilian vegetable fibres, although of excellent 
quality, would not meet with a demand in the European 
markets, unless the latter were certain that the necessary 
amount of materia prima for industrial purposes, would be 
furnished them. 

To solve this problem, and, on the other hand, to study the 
culture of the plants, producing these species of vegetable 
fibres, comparing the practical difficulties which might offer 



_ 5 — 

themselves in its preparation to those of the cultivation of 
other things, the Imperial Government deemed it proper, on 
the proposal of His Excellency the Visconde de Bom Reti- 
ro, to appoint a committee composed of the said gentleman, 
as chairman, and of Drs. G-uilherme Schuch de Capanema, 
Nicolau Joaquim Moreira and Commander Joaquim Anto- 
nio de Azevedo, said committee to examine this branch of 
rural economy in the very place where the discoverer had 
Commenced to cultivate the plant" 

From the thorough study to which this committee de- 
voted itself resulted a knowledge of the nature of these 
plants, of their easy acclimation, of the best seeds which 
may be obtained by the simple and inexpensive home 
culture in this instance, for these plants prosper quickly in 
any kind of soil, even though already exhausted, and in all 
climates. 

The report of the committee is as follows : 

Rio de Janeiro, Nov. 27th, 1872. 
Honorable Sir : 

The Committee appointed to examine the vegetable 
fibres offered by Mr. Severino Louren^o da Costa Leite,has 
the honor, in complying with the Official Notice from the 
Minister, of last July 25th, to offer to your consideration, 
the following result of its observations. 

On examining them and the information previously given 
to the Government, this Committee is of opinion that no- 
thing more is necessary to add in order to show the import- 
ance of preventing the dying in embryo of an industry so 
promising, and which if well managed, could in a few years 
make the plants well known among the most remarkable 
examples of such products, by the ease with which they 
are acclimated, and the improvement of the respective plants 
by cultivation ; the simple and inexpensive manner of culti- 
vating, of gathering the crop and of preparing the crude 
material ; when flax, on the contrary requires so much 
labor and care ; the rapidity with which the plants prosper 
even on land already long in cultivation, as the committee 
observed, and under the influence of any of our different 
climates, as the discoverer assures us, are certainly encourag- 
ing circumstances and more than sufficient to induce the 
government, with well grounded confidence to apply the 
means expected of it, for animating and promoting the de- 
velopment of this new and promising industry. 

It is sufficient to consider that, according to the opinion of 
the English botanist, John Myers, the fibres contain certain 



— 6 — 

excellent qualities, being finer, softer and offering greater 
resistance than flax, and according to the valuation of the 
manufacturer, also English, to whom the botanist referred, 
they are worth £ 84 per ton or 9d. per pound, that is, 3d. 
more than flax and as much or nearly a«s much as ordinary 
cotton, the current price of which at the time was 9 to lOd. 
per pound. • 

Besides this, by the experiments made uuder the immediate 
observation of one of the members of the committee, Dr. 
Gruilherme S. de Capanema, it was proved that one of the 
fibres, that of the lacteal vine, presented by the discoverer, 
really offers a far greater resistance and elasticity than flax 
and the fibre of the other plant also presented by the same 
gentleman, fully as much. 

To these advantages must be added that the propagation 
of the plants from which the fibres subjected to our invest- 
igation were extracted, may be easily effected by means of 
cuttings ; and, as for the lacteal vine, the committee saw it 
flourishing and developing itself perfectly among mango 
and other trees, interlacing its limbs and branches without 
injuring them in any manner. 

From this results the not insignificant convenience which 
farmers and landowners may have, of cultivating these plants 
in their extensive and virgin forests, among the enormous 
trees, and, in this manner, derive great profits, preserving at 
the same time the valuable timber, without the sad necessity 
of destroying and injuring the soil by the application of fire, 
which must perhaps be done for other and less lucrative 
crops, that also require more attention and labor. In con- 
sequence of all this, this committee is of opinion that the 
discoverer of these fibres, who has cultivated for so long a 
time the respective plants, devoting himself to this object 
with perseverance and successive experiments, is worthy of 
the benevolence of the powers of State, and of the favors 
for which he hopes and which his state of poverty render so 
necessary. Upon this point, however, this commttee begs 
leave to suggest in all due respect, that in its opinion, it is 
not by any means advisable to grant an exclusive privilege. 
On the contrary, it is of opinion that this new industry 
should be made as general as possible, by putting it in the 
power of the greatest possible number of cultivators who 
may wish to develop and perfect the same. 

This would be the most certain means of establishing its 
general use in the shortest time, if, as may be hoped, the 
culture should practically yeild the profits, "which are rea- 
sonably probable. For this to be realized, it is, however, 



— 7 — 

indispensable that the introducer of the culture should be 
provided with the necessary means to commence immedia- 
tely to extend the small plantation which he already has, 
and to develop it in a few years as much as it is possible for 
him to do. 

Above all it seems advisable to exact of him, in view of 
what the English botanist John Myers appropriately sug- 
gested in his report, that some tons of the fibres exhibited 
in Manchester be immediately gathered, prepared and sent 
there, as the same botanist recommended, in order to deter- 
mine if they can be spun and woven by the machinery now 
in use or if they require machinery of especial construction. 

This precaution, is without doubt, of the greatest advantage 
in the study of the manner of manufacturing the product, 
and at the same time, of better observing what may occur in 
relation to the different uses to which it is put, thus prepar- 
ing in advance a proper and certain market in Europe. 

But this Mr. Leite is unable to do, as he has ofteu declar- 
ed, for want of means, and it is indispensable that he be at 
once aided with the necessary amount for the expenses of 
the working force which he will have to emplcy in the 
gathering and extracting the fibres, as well as those incur- 
red for his subsistence and that of his family which he will 
be obliged to leave, when he goes to the woods, where he 
must remain the necessary length of time. 

In the second place, he should be bound to extend the 
cultivation on a scale necessary to ensure a good exportation 
of the best fibres, by the end of the first two years from the 
date of the contract, which he will have to sign. 

Without the certainty of cultivation on a large scale, the 
information received from England declares that a sure 
market can not be relied upon. To attain this object Mr. Leite 
will immediately require some lands, and in case he should not 
find any one who may grant him such, he will be obliged to 
buy them, if the Government has none or cannot furnish them. 

Having obtained the land, he will require laborers in a 
sufficient number, perhaps not less than 16 or 20 men, and 
besides, to care for their subsistence and for that of his fa- 
mily. It is consequently necessary to bear this circum- 
stance also in view. 

Besides this, it is advisable to bind Mr. Leite to make 
known which are the plants from which he extracts the 
fibres, the places where they are found, the manner and 
proper time to extract them, and, finally, to instruct those 
who may wish to attempt the new industry, in everything 
that may be necessary for this object, submitting to the 



— 8 — 

instructions which the Government may issue, in the faith- 
ful execution of his contract, under a monthly subsidy, which 
will enable him to pay all expenses and permit him to devote 
himself exclusively to this purpose during a certain number 
of years, never less than four. 

At the end of such time,let him be entitled to a pecuniary 
reward corresponding to the results obtained. 

If the latter are such as may be confidently expected, the 
empire gaining thereby still another source of income in its 
exports, he will deserve, without any doubt, such a reward; 
and the example will serve to animate others to dedicate 
themselves to the investigation of this and other products, 
which is so much needed in all the natural kingdoms in the 
vast regions which Brazil possesses, so rich in natural pro- 
ducts in the larger part,but which are still neglected and even 
ignored. 

We have the honor to be Your Excelleency's most Obi. 
and Humble Servants. 

Viscount de Bom Retiro, 

Chairman. 
gruilherme s. de capanema. 
nlcolao joaquim moreira. 
Joaquim Antonio de Azevedo. 

To His Excellency Councillor Francisco do Bego Barros 
Barreto, Minister and Secretary of State for Affairs of 
Agriculture, Commerce and Public Works. 

Ezamination of the vegetable fibres presented by Severino 
Lourengo da Costa Leite. 

The textile fibres presented to the Committee by Severino 
Lourenco da Costa Leite, were three in number, and were 
extracted : 1st., from a lacteal vine; 2nd., from a vine of 
malpighiacea ; 3rd. from a palmtree. 

Besides the latter, there were some filamentary products 
from the inner bark of several trees. As to the first, the 
Committee went to the place where some vines that pro- 
du ce it were cultivated and saw them growing luxuriantly, 
without any previous preparation of the soil; and some of 
the plants, though still young, had reached a length above 
eight metres and the aiea occupied by each one was about 
one square metre. 

Mr. Leite declared that young plants yield 16 grammes 
to each foot, and full grown ones as much as 80, or, in the 
least favorable instance, 160 kilogrammes per hectare ; ad- 
mitting the value of flax to be 700 reis per kilogramme, as 



— 9 — " 

Mr. Myers gives it, this quantity represents an income of 
112 mil reis, with exchange at par, in the English markets. 

A quantity of the fibres were extracted by the discoverer, 
in the presence of the committee, by an entirely rudimental 
process, which however was sufficient to demonstrate : 1st., 
that the manipulation is very easy and may be performed 
by simple machinery ; 2nd., that the fibre when extracted 
is in a state of purity and perfectly white, without requiring 
the application of chemical agents, more or less deleterious ; 
3rd. that immediately after cutting, the vine, being submit- 
ted to an ingenious preparation, an invention of Mr. Leite, 
the fibres may and indeed should be at once extracted. 

All the process of preparation is reduced to manipulations 
which require very little more labor than is required to gather 
^in, and card cotton; in this respect the fibre of the lacteal 
eine presents a great superiority over flax. 

It remains to prove whether it will admit of an advanta- 
geous comparison with flax, in point of tenacity. 

For this purpose, direct experiments were instituted to 
determine the resistance to rupture of the elementary fila- 
ments that enter into the composition of the fibre, which 
is only a little bundle of filaments. This experiment was 
made in the following manner : a fibre of 2cm. in length was 
fastened at each end between two small vises, the upper 
one securely attached to a firm beam and the lower fitted to 
a scale for receiving weights, and the effects of the distention 
produced by the weights, were observed at a distance of 8 
metres, through a telescope, magnifying 20 times. The 
vertical movement of the telescope was measured by a mi- 
crometre that permitted the reading of 1/2000 of a millimetre. 

The distension was always observed at the addition of 
two grammes to the weights, until the fibre broke. 

The annexed table gives the comparative results of the 
experiments with the different fibres; the first column shows 
the weight in succession which each fibre supported, it 
being necessary to add 1£ grammes-weight of the scale and 
vise which suspended it. The second and the third columns 
show the distension given by the difference in the two pre- 
ceding observations. In the first experiment it was neces- 
sary to empty the scale at every successive 20 grammes, in 
order to substitute single weights ; in the second, this ope- 
ration was performed only at every 40 grammes. 

The second series of experiments was made with a quan- 
tity of the fibre, somewhat soiled and but slightly coherent, 
which was described as having been exposed to the sun and 
rain on a rock for four months ; it was submitted to an ex- 



• — 10 — 

periment to show its state of preservation, and as it was a 

little scattered, it was necessary to employ a shorter one. 

The experiment could not be concluded for with a weight 

of 68 grammes the fibre slipped and fell out of the apparatus. 

The specimen of flax used in the comparative experiment, 

had been lately cultivated in Rio Grande do Sul and was 

still raw, not yet having been exposed to the bleaching 

process ; it was consequently in its best state of resistance. 

Passing ou to compare the results of the experiments, it 

is evident that each elementary filament of which the fibre 

is composed, presents a very different degree of resistance, 

according to the nature of the vegetable substance and in 

following proportion. 

Young lacteal fibre 14.6 oq 

Old lacteal fibre 9.4 nag 

Fibre of malpighiacea 5.4 cs £ 

Raw flax fibre 5.3 p" 

From this we conclude that the fibre of the vine pres- 
ented by Mr. Leite is nearly three times stronger than flax; 
even after being used it seems to lose very little of its 
strength. The fibre of the Malpighiacea which Mr. Leite 
designated as a species of hemp is as strong as flax, but one 
circumstance must be considered, which is, that two of the 
filaments composing the fibre under experiment were thin- 
ned out to fineness and terminated in a point; they were the 
ends of the filaments and therefore do not represent the in- 
tegral strength. 

As to the elasticity which must also be considered, in 
treating of materials for spinning and weaving, it is seen that 
at the moment before breaking, the percentage of its length 
amounts to the following: 

Lacteal fibre 3.70 p. c. 

Fibre of Melpighiacea . 1.90 " 

Flaxfibre 1.00 " 

Comparing the elasticity under the immediate weight to 
that which broke the flax fibre (32 grammes), we have. 

Flax fibre 1 .00 p. c. 

New lacteal fibre 1.10 ll 

Old lacteal fibre 1.60 " 

. Fibre of Malpighiacea " 1.80 " 

Of the two lacteal fibres under the weight of 66 grammes, 
at which it was necessary to stop the second experiment,the 
elasticity was for 

New fibre 2.40 p. c. 

Oldfibre 1.70 " 



— 11 — 

Whence we see that the used or old fibre had gained 
some elasticity. 

We proceeded to examine the structure of the fibres com- 
pared, as represented in the drawings of them in the an- 
nexed pages under Nos. I, II, III, giving the appearance 
they make under the microscope magnified 300 times in 
diameter. 

It is seen that the fibres used in the experiment were of 
the following diameter: 

m/m. 

Flax - 0126 

Lacteal fibre 0'063 

Fibre of Malpighiacea 0'056 

The filaments that compose the fibre vary considerably. 

Of the lacteal fibre 0'013 to 0'026 

Of the flax. O'OIO to 0'013 

Of the fibre of Malpighiacea O'OIO 

The flax fibre appears to have a greater diameter from 
its being some what flattened whilst the others are round- 
ing. 

All'of them prove considerable coherence in the old lacteal 
fibre which shows the filaments entirely separated and clean, 
whilst the new shows some adherent granules mostly knot- 
ted or intertwined. 

The flax filaments are found to be covered with strongly 
adherent granules so as to form a crust, as is seen in Tab. II 
fig. 1, and fig. 2 and B. 

The filaments of the Malpighiacea fibre are clean as seen 
in Tab. III. 

The filaments of the flax and Malpighiacea have thick 
walls with a narrow lumina. Tab. II fig. 2 B. and Tab. 
Ill fig. 3. 

Those of the new lacteal fibre scarcely leave the lumina 
perceptible by a narrow dark streak, Tab. I fig. 2 and B., 
whilst in the old lacteal fibre it appears more empty, Tab. 
I, fig. 5. 

The lacteal fibre is continuous, very rarely attenuated, and 
many of its filaments have spiral irregularities and some- 
times in two ways, so that its surface appears covered with 
a net whose meshes are elongated rhombs. This irregula- 
rity may perhaps contribute to give greater coherence to 
the threads produced from this fibre, but it is also probable 
it will be overcome in the spinning, because it was not ob- 
served except in the fibres taken from the plant without 
having had to support any weight. 



— 12 — 

The fibres of flax and Malpighiacea are composed of 
shorter filaments which become finer towards the points and 
overlap (Tab. II fig. 2, and Tab. Ill fig. 4), which must 
diminish their strength. 

As to breaking, it is very irregular in flax, Tab. II fig. 
3; it seems to show the existence of weak points in different 
parts whilst in the fibres of the Malpighiacea, Tab. Ill 
fig. 3 and 4, — it is transversal and in only one place ; fig. 3 
and 4 represent in the breaking, a tendency to ravel, in 
fig. 3 we can see the spiral irregularity above mentioned, and 
which is undoubtedly an indication of a very peculiar con- 
struction of the filaments which explaias its great strength 
and considerable elasticity. 

Some of the lacteal fibres of the plant present to the naked 
eye, at short intervals, ends more distinct and more imbed- 
ded, with the appearance of knots ; from this a weakening 
might result but it does not prove to be so, for when exam- 
ined with the microscope, these points are found to be folds 
or kinks of all the filaments of the fibre without interrup- 
tion of their continuity as is seen in Tab. I fig. 7. The 
fibre of the Malpighiacea presents similar phenomena. 
Among the lacteal fibres which constitute the middle bark 
and contained in the woven layer, are found flat strips 
similar to cotton, Tab. I fig. 6. 

It is necessary to observe that the milky juice conveyed 
by these fibres coagulates, producing a white substance, 
more brittle than elastic, with the properties of resin and 
not of India rubber or Grutta-percha, as in many others, even 
of the same family. 

From the above it is evident that the fibre of the lacteal 
plant presented by Mr. Severino Louren^o da Costa Leite, 
shows: 1st, strength and elasticity in a much higher degree 
than flax; 2nd, that these properties are due to a special 
texture ; 3rd, that its preparation and culture are easy and 
must therefore be very lucrative. 

As to Malpighiacea, it compares advantageously with 
flax. Its cultivation is easy; and the production of the fibre 
depends upon an operation envolving little labor and which 
facilitates the gathering of the crop and is an invention of 
Mr. Leite. 

In regard to other preparations, either from the palm trees 
or from various others, special studies have not been made. 
But it is worthy of mention in regard to these trees that 
not only can the filamentous middle bark bo applied to in- 
dustry but also the very wood itself can be used instead of 



— 13 — 

rags in the manufacture of paper, and this with great 
advantage. 

Viscount of Bom Retiro, 

Chairman. 

GUILHERME S. CAPANEMA. 
NlCOLAU JOAQUIM MOREIRA. 



At the National Exposition which took place in Eio 
Janeiro in 1873 the vegetable fibres, prepared by Mr. Sev- 
erino Leite, made a brilliant figure and being afterwards 
sent to the international Exposition of Vienna they won there 
the attention of the Belgian and English industry which 
subjected them to various experiments and prepared from 
them different fabrics. There are now exhibited in the 
Palace of the Exposition these fibres, already known, 
acompanied by various other species, in regard. to which 
the eminent and able Dr. Jose Saldanha da Gama expresses 
himself in the following manner : 

' ' Gold is that which is worth gold, we said to Mr. Leite, 
when we had finished examining the textile products from 
the Province of Minas Geraes, exhibited by him. One of 
these deserves preference in any treatise relating to ex- 
tractive industry; it will be the subject of many exclama- 
tions at Philadelphia and later on, of much demand, then of 
extensive introduction. In our humble opinion the exceed- 
ingly rich and highly important collection of the indefatig- 
able native of Minas Geraes is one of the glories of the pre- 
sent exposition. 

Seven qualities, of which six are specifically different, are 
the only cause of the murmur that is heard at times in the hall 
for the products of Minas Geraes. There was given to us a 
little specimen of each species for study ; we ascertained the 
existence of a reaction of the isolated fibres and the results 
obtained by us will be herein enclosed, expressing the ap- 
proximate values. 

First---Th.e lacteal vine possesses all the characteristics 
of the true asclepiadacea (however much we might wish to 
call it ortiga! ). The crude filaments as well as the carded 
threads are of an admirable whiteness and of unusual tena- 
city. This useful vine grows spontaneously on the Doce 
river in the District of Santa Barbara in the province of 
Minas Geraes, and now through well understood culture, the 
province of Rio Janeiro possesses a large number of plants 
of this species. 

The soil does not delay after receiving into its fertile 
bosom the seeds of this highly useful vine ; at the end of two 



— 14 — 

years the farmer gathers lateral fibres and sprouts, passing 
them through the hackles in the interior of a special ma- 
chine. If on an acre of land the crop is enlarged to 120,000 
plants of the lacteal vines, according 'to the teachings of 
experience and if each one produces thirty grammes of 
bark fibres from its respective cortex, it follows that from 
one acre of land the yeild of the textile material must be 
computed at 3,000,000 grammes The farmer loses on each 
vine scarcely 25 p. c. of threads which is nothing, compar- 
ing this disadvantage with the results of the crop. 

The vines grow to 100 feet in height, entwining them- 
selves around the trunks of the trees on the Doce river. 

With the aid of a lens and a fine needle we are certain of 
having completely separated the threads whose tenacity we 
can represent by the following figures : 

The first experiment gave us 140 grammes for the 
maximum in the spinning ; the second, 150 and three more 
experiments resulted the same way which brings us to the 
conviction of a rare fact in regard to the strength of fibres 
of vegetable origin. In the meantime these statistics will 
serve to confirm the judgement formed in Belgium about 
the unquestionable value of this precious vine ; handker- 
chiefs and other small articles have been manufactured 
there and the experiments crowned with the most brilliant 
results. In England they have also subjected it to a series 
of experiments so far as to be able to estimate the high 
price of the fabrics. 

What is wanting for the extension of this immense pro- 
duct of the Brazilian soil ? 

It is necessary that the government should entertain the 
idea of sending some one to the United States with many 
bales of the textile substance of the lacteal fvine for the 
purpose of taking advantage of the concurrence at Philadel- 
phia, aud transforming it into beautiful fabrics in the Am- 
erican factories, and then to exhibit them to the entire 
world. There, it will be said among other things that, the 
fibre of the vine asclepiadacea exposed during four months 
day and night, to the inclemency of the weather lost not 
even a single gramme from the figures denoting its strength. 

Second. A palm-tree, whose name is unknown, grow- 
ing on the Doce river, in the District of Santa Barbara, 
furnished a motive for the exercise of the activity of the in- 
defatigable exhibitor. From the leaves and petals there 
came filaments which seen in a mass, have the appearance 
of wool. Separating them with extreme care we found 
their value in strength to be 



— 15 — 

In the first experiment, 50 grammes ; in the 2d., 45; in 
the 3d., 59 ; in the 4th., 22 and in the 5th., 30. Average 
value about 40 grammes. Factories should be considered 
fortunate to be able to count it in their treasury of materias 
primas. 

Third. Now in regard to the appearance of two pro- 
ducts of one and the same palm-tree, Iriuba, Iri or Bra- 
jauva. On one side we appreciate the beautiful specimen 
of fibres taken from the yellowish colored leaves, in every 
respect similar in appearance to the wool of the Tucum of 
Brazil. This seems to be the true vegetable wool, more so, 
than the preceeiing ; if tried in the weaving machines it is 
certain the effects would not be negative. There are the 
details of the experiments : 1st., 59 grams.; 2d., 40 ; 3d., 50; 
4th., 40; 5th., 38. Average about 43 grammes.. 

Fourth. On the other hands specimens are seen, whita 
and light, formed in the intervals of the joints of narrow 
lamina or stalk in the language of the exhibitor ; it is suf- 
ficient to run a steel blade or one of thin wood between the 
straws of the plant for the immediate appearance of the 
light fibres, different in color and aspect, yet the product of 
the same palm-tree, Iriuba. We. have then the two qualities 
of fibres from one and the same species, the last being more 
tenacious as seen from the following experiments : 

1st. experiment, 45 grammes ; 2nd., 40; 3rd., 40 ; 4th., 
60; 5th., 60. Average: 49 grammes. 

Fifth. — There is mi the Doce river a celebrated tree, 
commonly called "wild fig" a species of the gamelleira (Fi- 
cus) whose milk contains India Rubber and whose bark is 
worthy of notice. The trunk leaves or stalk leaves although 
they cannot be separated into distinct fibres, nevertheless 
offer an interest not less industrial. By soaking them the 
leaves come out whole; when introduced between iron 
cylinders iu consequence of the compression suffered they be- 
come' very thin, yet preserving a remarkable width and 
length. In this condition, to say nothing of their being 
objects of curiosity, of innovation or pauperism, it is pos- 
sible to transform them into thick garments for country- 
laborers or for any other workmen. But what it is well 
to affirm here, is its acceptance in Belguim. The primitive 
paper of the fig tree of Minas G-eraes was formed into fine 
•writing paper. ■ Without further preparation letters aud 
official documents are written on the precious bark of the 
rich tree of the Doce river. Mr. Severino Leite declares 
that he has taken from one tree 275 covados (206 yards) 
of bark sheets of three fourths of a yard in width. 



— 16 — 

A new mine for industry. — This fig tree is propagated 
easily by cuttings, owing to the rapid development of the 
adventitious roots. 

Sixth. — Let the visitor pause before the red vine (Mal- 
pighiacea) red, that is, the color impregnated in the fibre 
by the natural dye of the vine as the process of extraction 
proceeds. 

It grows in the dry land, climbs up the trees or trails on 
the ground : it produces a quantity of gum ; the yield in 
fibres is copious ; the experiment show that the cords do 
not break for want of tenacity : 1st., 50 grams.; 2d., 45 ; 
3d., 50 ; 4th., 42 ; 5th., 15. Approximate average, 16 grams. 

Seventh. — Finally cipo preto, or black vine, which will 
attract the attention of the public, from the appearance of 
twisted thread, owes its accidental black color to the dye of 
the same plant, which dyes the shreds when drawing out 
the cortical fibres. This vine is found in the swampy parts 
of the province of Minas Greraes, comprehending a vast 
area of vegetation. Is it also a Malpighiacea ? Its resist- 
ance is as follows : 1st. experiment, 40 grams; 2nd., 37; 
3rd., 40; 4th., 35 ; 5th., 45. Average, 39 grammes. 

Comparing the averages of the 6 fibres the reader can 
estimate the strength of the lacteal vine, mentioned in the 
first place. 

This part of our studies being concluded, we will repeat an 
idea already sugg?>: + ed sometime ago by a person capable of 
judging: the richest and most beautiful show case which per- 
haps can be constructed in the workshops of Rio Janeiro, 
should be destined for the textile fibres of Mr. Leite. In 
Rio Janeiro or in Philadelphia, the men versed in these 
matters will place in a conspicuous position the distich : 
" Second Triumph achieved by the Empire of Brazil. n 

New York, March, 1876. 

Dr. Nicolau J. Moreira. 



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